'For the person or persons that hold dominion, can no more combine with the keeping up of majesty the running with harlots drunk or naked about the streets, or the performances of a stage player, or the open violation or contempt of laws passed by themselves than they can combine existence with non-existence'.

- Benedict de Spinoza. Political Treatise. 1677.




Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Philosophical Grammar 11

11. It is not a question of an instantaneous grasping. –

When a man who knows the game watches the game of chess, the experience he has when a move is made usually differs from that of someone else watching without understanding the game. But this experience is not the knowledge of the rules. – the understanding seems like a background; like the ability to multiply.



understanding just is the action of language – of language use –

it is propositional engagement –

and thus could be seen as ‘instantaneous’ –

however the real point here is that understanding – propositional engagement –

is essentially logical –

seeing the possibilities – possibilities of language use

what I would suggest is that exposure to language –

to propositional action

activates logical capacity



© greg t. charlton. 2014.